Best Cutting Mats in the UK

Review & Comparison, Last Update November 6, 2018

There is nothing like creating things with your own hands! Especially if you work using high-quality cutting tools. We have reviewed 5 best cutting mats that allow accurate, precise and quick shaping. Choose a suitable craft mat and let your creativity run wild!...Read more...Read less

This set will be perfect for artists and craftsmen enabling them to import any photos and images from digital gadgets directly to the mat. The pleasing colours, great adhesive properties, clear and precise grid, and soft images make it appealing and very convenient to use.

The variety of markings (circles, squares, grids, protractors) on this mat allows the user to cut and shape all kinds of figures with high accuracy and precision.

CONS

Small grooves will be left on the craft cutting mat after you use a knife for a while.

OUR VERDICT

A convenient ANSIO mat made out of five-layer PVC with double-sided markings (imperial and metric) that will lay on the working surface firmly without sliding or sticking to the materials. Good for working with A6, B6, A5, B5, A4, A2, A1, and B4 paper sheet sizes.

This is a self-healing A2 cutting mat: the knife grooves will disappear in a little while.

CONS

No grid in inches.

OUR VERDICT

What this double-sided mat is most recognized for is its longevity. If that's your priority, the mat that can heal itself is just what you need. In addition to such great durability, this mat is super comfortable in use and can let you work with a great variety of materials due to its robust anti-slip matted surface.

The centre mark in each square of the mat makes it easier to work with complicated cutting schemes.

CONS

The mat might slide on some surfaces impeding work.

OUR VERDICT

This is a sturdy mat that you can use for a variety of tasks. The markings won't get worn out with time, the corners and sheet sizes are marked quite clearly. The mat is rather thin but still strong, made in a muted green that won't be a strain on your eyes.

Cricut 2002217

Best Craft Accessory with a 3-Pack

Are you involved in quilting, sewing, making wood or paper crafts? If you answered "yes", then you should definitely consider buying the Cricut 2002217, a special cutting pad which will let you achieve high precision and accuracy in the work you do. What makes this set of cutting mats beneficial over many others is that it contains three mats instead of one so you can use a different one depending on the texture of material you're currently working with. Each mat is big enough to allow you to work with the majority of DIY craft projects without having to use a table and each mat is thick enough to let you slice your projects comfortably not having to worry that the blade of the knife might go through it. With the dimensions of 12 by 12 inches and 1/5" thickness, the cutting mats are just great. And it's not surprising why so many professional craftsmen and quilters choose this set. However, the feature we like most about this set of mats is its expression machine. It is with the help of this small accessory that you can make all your projects so precise and nice without putting a lot of effort.

Overall, the Cricut 2002217 is, without a doubt, one of the best models of cutting mats available on the market and it indeed will fit most quilting, sewing and crafting needs. The mat has very clear and durable markings allowing you to achieve precision in your work and is large enough to fit the majority of projects, even some big ones.

Additional Info

Olfa Rotating Self-Helaing Rotary Mat

360° of Efficiency

The Olfa engineers have been working hard to ensure their cutting boards deliver efficient performance. You only need to choose the right size to match your working surface and cutting out various shapes on it will be a breeze. Those people who have once tried using it for work cannot but give high value to the quality of the material and board itself. Due to the rotating feature, working with it requires minimum effort and strength, the mat can be angled in any position to enable more precise cut. There are inch grid lines and 30°, 45°, 60°, 90° angle markings. This wonderful self-healing mat allows making the most accurate measurements. Owing to the non-slip bottom layer, the cutting mat does not skid off the table. Restful green mat color prevents the item from glaring in the desk lamp light and reduces an eye strain caused by sustained work.

Well-deserved Popularity

Why do most artisans prefer Olfa cutting tools? The secret of their popularity is in high quality of all their products. The Olfa cutting mat boasts a wonderful self-healing feature, which means that the elastic surface closes up the cuts. Moreover, it does not affect a future cuts precision, the self-healing cutting board works just like new! The unique manufacturing technologies and high-quality materials work for the item’s durability and perfect density. As a result, the cutting blades stay sharp for a long while. No wonder that many people prefer using the Olfa cutting mats, they are definitely the best choice for craftspeople, designers, and engineers!

Additional Info

ANSIO A1 Cutting Mat

Refine Your Projects

Naturally, you want all your craft projects to be good, right? Which is why it's necessary to use auxiliary products that can help you master your skills and reach perfection. One of such products, which has got hundreds of rave reviews and never failed consumers down, is the ANSIO A1 Cutting Mat, a solid product for anyone involved in handcrafting. What makes this mat so peculiar and special is a wide variety of markings comprising circles, squares, grids, and protractors that serve as pre-made patterns for your future crafts. What this means is that you won't need to waste any of your time to make preliminary measurements and will be able to get down to work almost instantaneously, boosting your productivity several times. In addition to the markings and availability of both metric and imperial systems of units, this cutting mat stands out for its quality build. It is made of a dense 1/5” five-layer PVC that isn't easy to cut.

The ANSIO A1 Cutting Mat is quite big in size measuring 45 by 33 inches. It may actually turn out to be too big for some consumers who mostly deal with small projects and use a smaller table for that. The good news is, it will certainly be of great use for anyone producing oversize DIY crafts and there are several versions of mats to choose from, so you can get a mat of the needed size.

Of course, like any product out there, the ANSIO A1 Cutting Mat isn't completely flawless. Though it is quite thick overall, it's still recommended not to give it hard time and not to press cutting tools too hard to its surface as this may cause the appearance of small grooves which you'll not be able to remove. That's the thing to remember. Other than that, the mat is really good and will be a worthy purchase for anyone doing crafts. With the help of this only thing, you'll be able to refine your DIY projects and achieve surgical precision with ease.

Additional Info

Helix Q52010

Self-Healing for Extra Longevity

The best way to save money when buying a cutting mat for DIY crafts and arts is to buy one that heals itself so you won't ever need to buy it again. Sounds too good to be true? Well, that's exactly what you'll get on buying the Helix Q52010, a self-healing cutting mat designed for quilting, sewing, and paper/wood crafting.

Thanks to its self-healing properties, the surface of the mat will always look as new, self-repairing small scratches and more severe grooves left by sharp blades of rollers and knives in a short while after their appearance. Because of these unique properties of the mat, you will be able to work with more comfort and worry not about digging a knife too deep into the mat. The Helix Q52010 will endure all that and more, no matter how hard you cut.

Similar to other cutting mats, the Helix Q52010 has a grid allowing you to make accurate and precise cuts. Now speaking of the grid, it could've been improved, as it uses only one measurement system - metric one - and this could cause inconvenience to people who've used the imperial one all their life. But if you constantly learn new things and aren't afraid of challenges, you should quickly get the hang of it, because it's really worth it, given that we're talking now about a thing that can heal itself.

The Helix Q52010 cutting mat has a double-sided surface with the dimensions of 24 x 17 inches, which is just big enough for most average-size projects. The advantage of the surface being double-sided is that once one side of it is scratched and healing, you can use the other one, and vice versa.

Of course, the Helix Q52010 isn't the only cutting mat on the market which can heal itself. There are many other models available. But in our opinion, this mat is one of the better options out there, which is why we've decided to bring it to the review.

Additional Info

Pretex SC-114

Helps to Keep Your Blades Sharp

If you've got a skill in handcrafting, be it quilting, sewing, paper or wood crafts, buying a cutting mat is what can help you become more proficient and achieve better results. With the cutting mat, you won't need to measure thrice as all your cuts will appear precise on the first try. The Pretex SC-114 is a good mat to consider. Featuring a variety of angle guides and printer markings, it will lend you a helping hand in all your projects allowing your creativity to unfold.

By size, the Pretex SC-114 is average. Its size is A3. At 1/8", the thickness of surface could seem not enough at first, and that would be true if it wasn't for the self-healing properties which reinforce the mat. So even though the mat looks seemingly thin you can be sure it will not tear out after several uses. All grooves left after a craft knife or rolling cuter will cure themselves in a short while and your pad will look as good as new.

What else we liked about the Pretex SC-114 cutting mat is that it's got a kind of surface that prevents markings from fading and preserves their original look for a long time. Even if you used this mat for several years on a daily basis they wouldn't get worn off and you would still be able to see them clearly. Another feature unique for this mat is that all squares from the grid come with marks in the centre. Thanks to this, it's quite easy to work on even the most complicated schemes and DIY projects.

Made in a pleasant muted green colour, the Pretex SC-114 A3 cutting mat is a wonderful choice for anybody doing serious DIY projects. Whether you need to make a large quilt or cut a piece of wood with incredible precision, this mat is for you.

Pretex SC-114

What Is a Cutting Mat?

Most patchwork, quilting, scrapbooking, modeling, applique, paper crafts, as well as many other art and handiworks are done at a desk using special blades. No matter how careful you are, it is difficult to avoid scratching the table and damaging it. Besides, working without a pad is inconvenient and the results may be far from what you have expected. Craft mats have been designed to make your work as simple and comfortable as possible. A cutting mat is a thick piece of a special material put on a working table or desk to protect it from cuts and scratches. Advanced technology and high-quality materials allow making self-healing cutting boards that won’t be damaged by a knife. On the other hand, these unique art mats don't blunt the blades!

For faster and more precise cutting, it is advisable to get a cutting trimmer. It is a must-have device in the up-to-date office or any handcraft workroom. One more appliance that anyone with love and passion to handcraft should get interested in is an engraver, a tool that can let you incise various designs and prints onto flat surfaces.

What Features to Compare

Size and Thickness

The first tip in selecting a suitable cutting mat is its dimensions. For the most comfortable use, it should fit your table size and craft materials. In addition, craft cutting board thickness should suit the blade width. Commonly used 1/8" art mat enough for work with most materials types. Thinner cutting mats may quickly wear off if you press on the blade too hard.

Working Surface

Craft mats may vary in color and markings. Most common are green or blue with a white or yellow grid. There are also many other color schemes, but it'd be much better if you choose the one that doesn't irritate your eye and delivers a soothing effect during work. Pick a transparent model if you work on a backlit surface. The markings on a working surface can be of two types which are: Imperial and Metric. But you can get a cutting mat with a combined texture if that's what you need.

Material and Usability

Cutting pads vary in material structure, which directly affects characteristics and usability of different mats. Manufacturers use a wide range of innovative technologies and high-quality materials to get the desired material density and properties. Rough cutting mats may quickly blunt the blades. On the other hand, high-quality self-healing cutting boards are not so easy to ruin and damage. Whenever the blade penetrates the paper or fabric you’ve laid on the mat, all multiple cuts and scratches close up by themselves within seconds! This unique feature makes self-healing cutting mats incredibly popular and comfortable to use. Consider the number of layers in the chosen cutting board, for this number may vary and impact the service life of your mat. Most common mats consist of three layers with one more sturdy in the middle to withstand cuts and other two to prevent slipping.